Tailgating Time: Wings & Wine Pairings

It’s easier than you think to pair spicy foods with wine. You just need to look for a few things. The wine should be lower in alcohol, lower in tannins and should be very fruity to slightly sweet. You also don’t want to chose a wine with too much oak. Bubbly wines like Prosecco are AWESOME with anything fried, and that includes hot wings! Go team!

To Fry:Heat oil in a deep fat fryer or deep cast iron pan to 400 degrees. In a bowl, mix flour with salt. Add chicken pieces several at a time. Toss to coat and place on paper towel lined sheet pan. Add chicken to oil; do’t overcrowd. Cook until done; about 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Toss in a bowl with melted butter and hot sauce and serve.

To bake:Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with vegetable oil. In a bowl, mix flour and salt. Add chicken pieces several at a time. Toss to coat. Spread chicken on baking pan and spray with vegetable spray. Roast for 45 minutes, turning once or twice, until brown and crispy. In a bowl, toss chicken with hot sauce and butter to coat and serve.

To grill: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. In a bowl, mix flour and salt. Add chicken pieces several at a time. Toss to coat. Add chicken to the grill. Close lid and cook for about 20 minutes, turning wings every few minutes. Skin should be brown and crispy, check that meat is completely cooked through. Remove from grill, toss chicken with hot sauce and butter to coat and serve.

Wing flavor & sauce variations

Modify the recipe above with flavors that fit your fancy all by changing up the ingredients you add to the flour and salt, and the hot sauce and butter mixture.